Travellers to Turkey advised
Several countries including the UK, US and Canada have issued travel warnings for Turkeyafter recent reports of over 100 deaths linked to ‘fake alcohol’ in the cities of Istanbul and Ankara.
According to Travel News, tourists were reportedly poisoned after consuming illicit alcoholic contaminated with methanol.
Methanol is as a toxic substance and is often used in fake alcohol as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, which is actually safe to consume. Methanol is sometimes added on purpose or created as a result of improper distillation processes.
Turkiye Today has reported 103 deaths across Ankara and Istanbul in the past weeks since 14 January. The number of fake alcohol-related hospitalisations has also risen quiet significantly, with 150 patients seeking medical attention due to suspected poisoning in Istanbul alone in the past weeks.
The Ankara Governor’s Office also issued a public advisory highlighting the ongoing danger of fake liquor.
“Our law enforcement and food safety teams continue intensive inspections. Citizens are urged not to buy alcohol from unauthorized sellers and to report any suspected counterfeit production sites.” the Ankaran government said.
How do you know if you’re buying counterfeit product?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has made the following recommendations when travelling and buying alcohol in different countries:
- Only buy alcoholic beverages from licensed liquor stores
- Only buy drinks at licensed bars and hotels
- Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks
- Check that bottle seals are intact
- Check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling.
Do you think all countries should issue travel alerts when things like this occur?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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